In December, Austin Archer, professor of education and psychology at Walla Walla University, was presented with the 2019 WWU Community Service Award at the 137th annual Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet.

Since joining the WWU faculty in 1991 Archer has served on many WWU governance committees and has been elected twice to serve as Chair of the Faculty. He has also been a member of the Rogers Adventist School board and served as chair of that board for two years. 

Archer has also served in various capacities within the University Church including as an elder for many years and two terms as head elder. He has also led out in a variety of religious classes and services. He is active in music performance and has been a section leader of the Congregational Church choir and has performed with the Walla Walla Mastersingers.

Archer’s work in the wider Walla Walla community is extensive. He joined a group of volunteers doing re-entry work at the Washington State Penitentiary 15 years ago. The group worked with inmates who were within six months of release and helped them prepare for their release. Archer was part of a group of these volunteers who formed a nonprofit organization called the Successful Transition and Re-entry (STAR) Project. Archer later served as president of the STAR board and is currently a STAR board member.

Archer was also on the committee that drafted the initial constitution of what became the SonBridge Community Center. He has served on the SonBridge board since 2005. He was also appointed as a trustee of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District in 2017 and was elected by fellow trustees in 2019 to serve as chair. 

At the awards banquet in December, Archer dedicated his award to his father, Henry Archer, who died in 2019 at the age of 101.

Posted Jan. 29, 2020.